USDA Eying Rules More Farmer Friendly
By Tracy Sayler, Communications Specialist, Minnesota Assn. of Wheat Growers & Minnesota Wheat Council
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Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain
Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association.
Farmers would be free to plant what they want within their total acreage base, with deficiency payments continuing on historic base acreages that would remain unchanged.
For example, you could plant corn on your wheat and barley bases and still receive wheat and barley deficiency payments. Weber says the idea would offer more flexibility, and administering it would be less complex.
The 1994 election shake-up will deflect some environmental influence on the farm bill, "but I still think there's going to be pressures to make programs more green," he said.
If that holds true, the preferred method would be "to provide a carrot, rather than push with a stick." Weber said it surprised him that even Environmental Protection Agency officials are talking about "designing programs that provide producer incentives, instead of smacking on the regulations."
Payment limitation rules may be simplified, said Weber. "Currently, people are required to go through certain hoops to determine you're actively engaged in farming. We don't think that makes sense. So we're working on a process that will save a large number of producers not impacted by payment limitations from going through these hoops," he said.
Also, the USDA is eying a move to extend more program authority to the state and county levels, said Weber. And, the USDA is warming its engines for the "super information highway."
"We envision producers with personal computers and modems that will be able to do business with the FSA electronically, rather than come into the office," said Weber. "There are pilot programs in place looking at this, and so far we've had good responses."